LIVE from Napa Valley: October Harvest Press Tour of Napa and Sonoma Starts Here
How is the 2023 Harvest Shaping Up?
Join me this October LIVE from Napa Valley. The 2023 vintage crop is coming about two weeks late due to a cool, wet winter and spring. It’s beautiful now! Napa Valley has 16 nested AVAs*. There are 475 physical wineries and 1,700 registered wineries in Napa Valley which produce 1000 different wine brands. 95% of Napa Valley wineries are family owned. Sonoma County has 425 wineries and 18 AVAs. It is difficult to select where to go. I love to discover a unique winery background story as much as I love tasting a new wine.
How Does the 2023 Vintage Look?
“It’s shaping up to be a good vintage. We know anything can happen, but so far we’ve had a nice cool Spring, great growth on the vines, the right amount of fruit….so far it’s looking like it’s going to be a later harvest….but I’m very optimistic. I think we’re going to make some great wines this year.” – Andy Erickson, winemaker, Ellman Estate Vineyard, Atlas Peak, Napa Valley.
Where Will We Be?
The 2023 Napa Valley and Sonoma County press tour (with some Sierra Foothills detours) will prove to be busy. Here are some of the stops:
*Jarvis Estate Winery, Napa Valley AVA* - This winery is home to Ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot wines.
*Cathiard Family Estate, Rutherford AVA – Here is a true French “makeover.” Formerly Flora Springs property, the Smith Haut-Lafitte, Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, owners have created a new ultra-premium winery at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains.
*Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery – A perennial favorite of mine in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley AVA…with their single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines stretching to several other nested AVA’s of Sonoma.
*Rombauer Vineyards – This Napa Valley/St. Helena famous wine brand also has holdings in the Sierra Foothills. We’ll be visiting both, understand the offerings of each, and getting an update with Richie Allen, VP of Viticulture and Winemaking since our last August 2021 visit, “Rombauer Vineyards: Chardonnay Giant, But Don’t Forget the Reds.”
*Treasury Estate Wines owns several well-known brands like Beringer Vineyards and Stags’ Leap Winery. Both wineries have impressive Napa Valley history.
*Cliff Lede Vineyards – This winery is famous for their Rock ‘n Roll-themed vineyards and tasting room. We’ll be attending the media event to showcase the newly redesigned Backstage Tasting Lounge which has been “remastered” with a touch of rockstar edge. Tasting the 2019 famous Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon (100 Points, Wine Advocate) will be my goal.
*Schramsberg and Davies Vineyards, The famous Napa Valley sparkling wine producer (used to toast the opening of US relations with China in the 1972 “Toast to Peace”) also makes powerful still red wines from its Davies Vineyards brand. We are fortunate to visit both locations.
*Ferrari Carano Vineyards and Winery, Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley – This winery is well-known for their stunning Italian gardens, French and Italian varietal wines, and tourism events. This year we are doing a “Pergola Tasting” set in an olive tree grove and featuring 5 reserve wines and a charcuterie board.
*Charles Krug Winery, Established in 1861 as the first commercial winery in Napa Valley, this iconic winery has roots with the Mondavi family. I’m pleased to be able to interview Riana and Angelina Mondavi to learn more about their place in the heritage and future plans of the winery.
*Stags' Leap Winery, The history of Stags’ Leap winery is colorful and embraces several distinct eras since establishing in vineyards in 1872. I look forward to reporting about their Estate wines.
*Ursa Vineyards, Sierra Foothills. Although not located in Napa Valley, I am venturing into the Sierra Foothills to visit with Greg Stokes, Winemaker. My friend Dr. Bob Young, CEO Bending Branch Winery, and parent company to Ursa, is a huge fan of the Basque-style blends, Zinfandel, and Merlot produced at this winery.
*Beringer Vineyards, We’re entering California’s oldest continually operating winery to taste their highly awarded private reserve wines.
*Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves, Dry Creek, Sonoma. I am looking forward to discovering Bella, a family run winery featuring small lots of Zinfandel and an elegant Rosé of Pinot Noir.
* Beaulieu Vineyard (BV Winery) Since 1903 BV wines have been served to dignitaries and celebrities in the last century. We’re celebrating their 100th anniversary this year with a tour and tasting.
*Hendry Ranch Wines, George Hendry and his family have grown grapes on this same land since 1939. San Francisco Chronicle’s Esther Mobley, named it one of “Napa’s best-kept secrets.”
Join us in October as we tour the most famous wine regions in America. Watch for our winemaker stories this Fall and Winter.
*AVA – American Viticultural Area – a designation of the appellation of origin used on wine labels. An AVA is a delimited grape-growing region with specific geographic or climatic features that distinguish it from surrounding areas. The TTB or Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the US Treasury oversee this designation, not the Department of Agriculture.
Wine Recommendations:
2019 Schramsberg Brut Rose, North Coast, $50
Wine Enthusiast, 93 Points
2020 Hendry Albariño, Napa Valley, $30
James Suckling, 92 Points
2018 Jarvis Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, $209
Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points
2019 Rombauer Merlot, Napa Valley, $55
Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points
2019 Cliff Lede Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $80
Robert Parker, 92 Points
2022 Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc, St. Helena, Napa Valley, $20
Wine Enthusiast, 93 Points
Wine Wanderings Editorial Calendar
Traveling the Pessac-Léognan French Wine Region, Where to Stay, Wineries to Visit
Loire Valley Wines: Ancient Sites with Modern, Organic Approaches
Thanksgiving Wines: Pairings and Recipes
The Many Facets of Rombauer Vineyards: An interview with Richie Allen, Winemaker
La Cité du Vin – International Wine Museum Offering Sensory Experiences
Traveling to the Champagne Region of France
Cliff Lede Vineyards: Remastering the Rock & Roll Winery of Napa Valley
Charles Krug Winery: Historic Roots, Mondavi Generations
Sports Stars Wine and Spirits
What is a Cooperage?
Grower Champagnes – Why are They the Darlings of Champagne?
Martini’s - What’s New, What’s Old: Classic vs. Modern Martinis
What do you think about Gallo buying Rombauer?
I'm glad you are going to Bella. I like their Zin...and I once had a sheep I named after the winery.